John Siddique is a British author and poet who found answers to existential questions in spirituality. For quite some time, he struggled with self-doubt, negativity, and unhealthy relationships, but he would constantly hit a wall. John wanted to understand himself: “I didn’t know how to love or how to live this life,” he told me. “I was living through certain objects (work, relationships). We try to move into those things to find meaning and not one of them has sufficient meaning in them.” Then, his path was lit by spiritual awareness, a journey within himself, or “back home,” as he says. In this interview, John tells us about his discoveries, including his lived experiences with suicide. One of the topics we explored was the different meanings of suicide, which was quite enlightening to me. Find John Siddique: https://www.authenticliving.life/ His book: https://amzn.to/3aGfMuy Watch this interview on my YouTube channel "Understand Suicide:” Enroll in my course "How to help suicidal people." https://bit.ly/3klNZ7n  Visit my page www.understandsuicide.com   Find my book "Understanding suicide: living with loss, paths to prevention:” https://amzn.to/2ANczuR   Read my blog on Psychology Today: https://bit.ly/2Y9WdID Exchange experiences on my Facebook page: https://bit.ly/3h8sIet  If you need to talk, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on their website or phone: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org Phone: 800-273-8255 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/paula-fontenelle/message

Understand Suicide

Ep. 77 - Finding answers within the self | John Siddique

On our last episode of the Suicide Awareness Month series, I interview Aaron Wanserski, host of the podcast Center for Suicide Awareness. This US-based organization is dedicated to preventing suicide through proactive education, training, emotional support, collaboration, and intervention. In this interview, Aaron shares his personal story of suicidal ideation and how leaving his job as a police officer sent him on a different path. At the time, he knew little about mental illness, but with the support of his wife, he decided to change his life around. Find the Center for Suicide Awareness podcast: https://bit.ly/2ZGicY7 Watch this interview on my YouTube channel "Understand Suicide:” https://bit.ly/3ieZg9o Enroll in my course "How to help suicidal people." https://bit.ly/3klNZ7n  Visit my page www.understandsuicide.com   Find my book "Understanding suicide: living with loss, paths to prevention:” https://amzn.to/2ANczuR   Read my blog on Psychology Today: https://bit.ly/2Y9WdID Exchange experiences on my Facebook page: https://bit.ly/3h8sIet  If you need to talk, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on their website or phone: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org Phone: 800-273-8255 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/paula-fontenelle/message

Ep. 76 - Aaron Wanserski: quitting his job saved his life | Suicide Awareness Month Series

Now you have a new way to contact me directly, but most importantly, to participate in the podcast! By phone! I get a lot of individual questions from the listeners, so I decided to host episodes that will address these questions directly. Please send them in either written or voice formats. Make sure to let me know whether or not you would like for me to mention your name and where you're calling from, ok? Also, when I have a new guest scheduled for the podcast, I will let you know in advance so that that you can send your own questions to them. This is a way that I found to include you on the podcast as a way for us to interact and build it together. Feel free to send me suggestions, comments, and questions either for me or for my guests. The number is  541 9463141 Important: It's a USA number, so make sure to add the country code if you are not in the US. I have listeners from over 120 countries! and I want to make sure they reach me. Thanks! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/paula-fontenelle/message

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Today’s interview is the second in the Suicide Prevention Awareness Month series, an initiative that aims to offer additional resources to my listeners. My guest, Christopher Parker, is a suicide attempt survivor who hosts the podcast Coffee over suicide, which he describes as “a dramedy podcast about mental illness and choosing life over death one cup of coffee at a time.” Chris is a remarkable person who advocates for mental health and brings this difficult conversation into people’s homes with his podcast. In this interview, I felt touched by how genuine and caring he was. With a contagious smile, he shared some of his story and the different path he’s found to deal with personal struggles. His underlying message is one of hope, which is what I always want to bring to my listeners. Find his podcast: https://apple.co/39hgpKv Watch this interview on my YouTube channel "Understand Suicide:” Enroll in my course "How to help suicidal people." https://bit.ly/3klNZ7n Donate to the podcast: https://bit.ly/3maL9RO   Visit my page www.understandsuicide.com   Find my book "Understanding suicide: living with loss, paths to prevention:” https://amzn.to/2ANczuR  Exchange experiences on my Facebook page: https://bit.ly/3h8sIet If you need to talk, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on their website or phone: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ Phone: 800-273-8255 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/paula-fontenelle/message

Ep. 75 - Chris Parker: a mental health advocate with suicidal ideation | Suicide Awareness Month Series 2

In light of the Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, I’ve started a short series where I interview fellow podcasters whose podcasts cover the field of mental health. Some of them are specifically about suicide, others are broad but are equally helpful in dealing with personal crisis. My main objective is to offer additional resources to my listeners. Today, I talk to Craig Foust, an American licensed counselor, and we explore the theme of teen suicide. His podcast is called “Mental Health Insights,” and you can access it in the link below: https://bit.ly/3jP1Vrq Craig’s website: https://www.lifecarecounselingstl.com/ Enroll on my course "How to help suicidal people." https://bit.ly/3klNZ7n Watch this interview on my YouTube channel "Understand Suicide:” Donate to the podcast: https://bit.ly/3maL9RO   Visit my page www.understandsuicide.com   Find my book "Understanding suicide: living with loss, paths to prevention:” https://amzn.to/2ANczuR  Exchange experiences on my Facebook page: https://bit.ly/3h8sIet If you need to talk, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on their website or phone: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ Phone: 800-273-8255 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/paula-fontenelle/message

Ep. 74 - Suicide Awareness Month Series | Craig Foust

Dr. Srikumar Rao is a speaker, author, former business school professor and the creator of Creativity and Personal Mastery, a course designed to effect personal transformation. Through beautiful stories, Dr. Rao brings awareness to the negative internal talk we many times nourish in ourselves. “It's a self-reinforcing loop: the more you think about it, the deeper it becomes,” he says. The mental chatter influences how we relate, how we feel our experiences, and most importantly, how we create our reality. He also sheds light into what he calls our “mental models,” our deep-rooted beliefs about how the world works. So, how can we break these patterns and build a more meaningful, intentional life? That’s what we talk about in this interview. Find Dr. Rao: https://theraoinstitute.com/ Watch this interview on my YouTube channel "Understand Suicide:” https://youtu.be/jL1FkEJlX68 Enroll on my course "How to help suicidal people." https://bit.ly/3klNZ7n Donate to the podcast: https://bit.ly/3maL9RO   Visit my page www.understandsuicide.com   Find my book "Understanding suicide: living with loss, paths to prevention:” https://amzn.to/2ANczuR  Exchange experiences on my Facebook page: https://bit.ly/3h8sIet If you need to talk, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on their website or phone: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ Phone: 800-273-8255 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/paula-fontenelle/message

Ep. 73 - Reshaping negative self-talk | Dr. Srikumar Rao

If you have a friend or loved one who struggles with suicidal thoughts, ideation or previous attempts, click on the link below to find out about my course “How to help suicidal people.” In this course, you will learn about the mental state of a suicidal person, how it impacts the way they view life, how to bring hope into the conversation, how to prepare yourself to listen, how to create a safety plan, how to assess their risk level, the role of medication, and much more. For more information and to watch a free sample, CLICK HERE or copy and paste the link below on your browser: https://www.understandsuicide.com/courseregistration --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/paula-fontenelle/message

How to help suicidal people

When Rabbi David-Seth Kirshner was told, twenty five years ago, that he needed to call home, he knew it was bad news, but what he didn’t expect was that later that day, his parents would answer the phone together so that they could tell him that his older brother, Gabriel, who was 36 years old at the time, had died by suicide. What he also didn’t know, because we never do, is that Gabriel’s devastating death would change their lives forever. In this interview, Rabbi Kirshner talks about how each member of his family reacted to Gabriel’s death, and how he, as a religious leader, engaged in advocacy so that he could, personally open a constructive conversation about mental health and self-inflicted death. When he became the Rabbi of the Temple Emanu-El of Closter, in New Jersey, his opening sermon was about his brother’s suicide because he wanted his congregation to feel that they could come to him and talk about their struggles. He also opened up about the fact that, when Gabriel was a child, he had been sexually abused by a Rabbi, which impacted him immensely. Much to my surprise (and limited knowledge about Judaism), Rabbi Kirshner shared that Judaism has evolved from the all-or-nothing condemnation of suicide, to a place of understanding.“Today, all the major streams of Judaism - not the extremes -, there is a sense of compassion, empathy, and understanding not only for the victims of suicide, but for the survivors and family members,” he said. This has been quite an enlightening interview and it’s part of my efforts to bring in religious and spiritual leaders to the podcast so that we can learn about these communities and the way they view suicide. If you want to listen to Rabbi Kirshner or contact him, visit: http://rabbikirshner.com/ Watch this interview on my YouTube channel "Understand Suicide:” https://youtu.be/uIbME8UYBfk Donate to the podcast: https://bit.ly/3maL9RO   Visit my page www.understandsuicide.com   Find my book "Understanding suicide: living with loss, paths to prevention:” https://amzn.to/2ANczuR  Exchange experiences on my Facebook page: https://bit.ly/3h8sIet If you need to talk, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on their website or phone: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ Phone: 800-273-8255 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/paula-fontenelle/message

Ep. 72 - A Rabbi who lost his brother to suicide | David-Seth Kirshner

“Mom, I want to die.” Within a period of 4 years, my guest Dawn Day heard this from all her three teenage daughters. One of them almost died from 2 suicide attempts; the other suffered from debilitating panic attacks; all struggle with depression. Dawn had the traumatic experience of reading a good-bye letter from one of her daughters. All this pain has transformed her life. Today, she educates parents who have children struggling with mental illness and suicidal ideation. In this interview, Dawn talks about the individual traumas that her kids have endured, including different types of abuse. “I didn’t even recognize it as abuse at the time,” she says. She talks about her guilt and constant feeling that she should have known better, that she should have seen the signs. The judgement of others is still present but together with her daughters, she is building a path of healing, one that is based on understanding, support, and love. If you want to contact Dawn, visit her website: https://hopefuldawn.com/ Watch this interview on my YouTube channel "Understand Suicide:” Donate to the podcast: https://bit.ly/3maL9RO   Visit my page www.understandsuicide.com   Find my book "Understanding suicide: living with loss, paths to prevention:” https://amzn.to/2ANczuR  Exchange experiences on my Facebook page: https://bit.ly/3h8sIet If you need to talk, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on their website or phone: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ Phone: 800-273-8255 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/paula-fontenelle/message

Ep. 71 - Her three kids struggle with suicidal thoughts | Dawn Day

Most of us have felt stuck at some point in our lives. This interview with Dave Evans will help you move forward. Together with Bill Burnett, he wrote the book “Designing your life: how to build a well-lived, joyful life.” They also founded the Stanford Life Design Lab, where they teach one of the most popular classes there. Dave also knows about suicide loss. At the age of nine, he lost his father to suicide. He was only 49 years old at the time. Decades later, in a painful search for his own identity, Dave found himself rebuilding the gaps in his father’s storyline. “You can’t know who you are if you don’t know whom you came from,” he says. In this interview, Dave talks about the many ways we can reframe our life situation so that we can free ourselves of what the authors call “dysfunctional beliefs,” myths that prevent us from designing the life we envision for ourselves. For those who struggle with suicidal ideation, these dysfunctional beliefs could be something like “there is no other way out,” or “I’m not good enough.” Dave also addresses suicide grief and the places where families get stuck after loss, which can be, for example, by feeling guilty or feeling engulfed by the “what ifs” that often come after the death of a loved one by suicide. This interview is profound and illuminating. It is helpful to all of us. Find Dave Evans' book at https://designingyour.life/the-book/ His course “Desinging your life” can be taken online here: https://cr8.lv/362ZRUZ The Stanford Life Design Lab: http://lifedesignlab.stanford.edu/ Watch this interview on my YouTube channel "Understand Suicide:” Donate to the podcast: https://bit.ly/3maL9RO   Visit my page www.understandsuicide.com   Find my book "Understanding suicide: living with loss, paths to prevention:” https://amzn.to/2ANczuR  Exchange experiences on my Facebook page: https://bit.ly/3h8sIet --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/paula-fontenelle/message

Ep. 70 - Getting unstuck and redesigning your life | Dave Evans

I’ve been researching suicide within the context of religions for many years, but I never seem to find clear answers to fundamental questions, such as, how is suicide portrayed and view by the major religions? Is it mentioned in their Holy Books? In general, the answer is: suicide is condemned by them for it is considered a mortal sin. This doesn’t seem enough because I know that it’s not that simple, so I’ve been searching for religious leaders and scholars that can be more specific, individuals who can give my audience knowledgeable guidance on this topic. Today, I’m talking to Dr. Marty Michelson, PhD, who is a trained Biblical expert on Jewish scripture (old testament). He is Christian and has several degrees from a number of Universities, lecturing internationally. Marty is the author and contributor to various of books, including “Reconciling Violence and Kingship" and "The Greatest commandment: The LORD’s Invitation to Love.” He is an ordained Reverend in the Church of the Nazarene, and a mental health professional. Our conversation will focus on Judaism and Christianity. I will continue to search for guests who can talk about other major religions. If you know someone, please let me know by sending me a message through my website and clicking on the Podcast page. For select lectures, sermons & thoughts from Dr. Marty Michelson, visit his website at: www.martymichelson.com Visit my page www.understandsuicide.com   Watch this interview on my YouTube channel "Understand Suicide:” https://bit.ly/3iPq5Sv Donate to the podcast: https://bit.ly/3maL9RO   Find my book "Understanding suicide: living with loss, paths to prevention:” https://amzn.to/2ANczuR  Exchange experiences on my Facebook page: https://bit.ly/3h8sIet --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/paula-fontenelle/message

Ep. 69 - Suicide in Christianity and Judaism | Dr. Marty Michelson

As you know, I created this podcast to prevent suicide and provide comfort for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one to suicide.  I am planning the next six months of interviews and knowing your needs would help me immensely, so please click on the link below and fill out a quick form which will take you less than a minute to finish. The questions will let me know the topics that are of interest to you.  CLICK HERE FOR SURVEY OR copy and past the following address: https://bit.ly/3xbZByD Thanks! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/paula-fontenelle/message

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When Dr. Judson Brewer started his career, his approach to treat anxiety reflected what he had learned in medical school: diagnose and medicate, but what he found very early on was that medication was not enough. Actually, for most of his patients, it didn’t help at all, so he tried a new path, and, as most curious, restless minds do, Dr. Judson questioned everything he knew. Today, Dr. Jud, as he is worldly known, approaches anxiety as a habit, something that can be learned, as consequently, unlearned. How? That’s what he shares with us in this interview. I invited him to be a guest on my podcast after I finished his insightful book “Unwinding anxiety: New Science Shows How to Break the Cycles of Worry and Fear to Heal Your Mind.” What I love about the way he presents anxiety is the fact that he introduces this topic in a fresh, bold perspective, which will certainly challenge the way you look at it. Not only that, but most importantly, his vision empowers us to reclaim our power to change.  In this interview, Dr. Jud offers us effective tools to combat not just anxiety but unhealthy habits, including addictions, that sometimes take over our lives. Quote: “What we resist, persists, and what we feel, heals.” To learn more about Dr. Judson Brewer, visit: www.drjud.com Watch this interview on my YouTube channel "Understand Suicide:”   https://bit.ly/2QMS0H4 Donate to the podcast: https://bit.ly/3maL9RO    Visit my page www.understandsuicide.com   Find my book "Understanding suicide: living with loss, paths to prevention:”  https://amzn.to/2ANczuR  Exchange experiences on my Facebook page: https://bit.ly/3h8sIet --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/paula-fontenelle/message

Ep. 68 - Anxiety is not what you think | Dr. Judson Brewer

As for most of us in Western cultures, dreams used to mean nothing to Dr. Joshua Black, but that completely changed after the death of his father. At the time, he remembers feeling numb, his life’s colors had disappeared. One day, after a peaceful dream with his dad, “the color was back,” he says, and, as if by magic, he could suddenly function again. Even though it was helpful to him then, he still had no idea that that specific dream would transform and guide his life. Today, Dr. Joshua Black, a PhD in psychology, dedicates his research to grief dreams and their impact on those who are left behind. In this interview, he shares some of the findings with us and helps us answer some of the common questions surrounding dreams: do we all dream? Why some of us can’t remember them? Do they have a function? Is there a way to trick our minds into dreaming more often or even changing their narrative? What about suicide dreams? Are they different? What do they say about our loss? To find out more about Dr. Joshua’s work, his courses, his podcast, and how to set up private consultations, visit his website: https://www.griefdreams.ca/ You can watch this interview on my YouTube channel "Understand Suicide:” https://bit.ly/3uJVM2E Donate to the podcast: https://bit.ly/3maL9RO  Visit my page www.understandsuicide.com Find my book "Understanding suicide: living with loss, paths to prevention:” https://amzn.to/2ANczuR Contact me and exchange experiences on my Facebook page: https://bit.ly/3h8sIet --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/paula-fontenelle/message

Ep. 67 - Understanding grief dreams | Dr. Joshua Black

The first time Bill Clemo realized that he needed to look into his mental health was right after he started college. At the time, he thought that his sleep deprivation was temporary, so were the mood swings, but after a suicide attempt, it became clear that he needed help. It has been over thirty years since he started treatment for bipolar disorder but the decision to openly talk about it did not come easily to him. Today, he leads a group that helps others share their experience with mental illness. At work and within his group of friends, everybody knows about his condition, which according to him, is quite helpful because they help monitor his symptoms and behavior. He is also a leader of the Stability Network, an organization that aims to break the stigma surrounding mental illnesses. To know more about this initiative, visit: https://www.thestabilitynetwork.org/ You can watch this interview on my YouTube channel "Understand Suicide.” Donate to the podcast: https://bit.ly/3maL9RO  Visit my page www.understandsuicide.com  Find my book "Understanding suicide: living with loss, paths to prevention:” https://amzn.to/2ANczuR Contact me and exchange experiences on my Facebook page: https://bit.ly/3h8sIet --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/paula-fontenelle/message

Ep. 66 - Talking openly about having bipolar disorder | Bill Clemo

Here we will create a safe community to fight the stigma surrounding suicide. I will interview specialists, survivors, and individuals who have a story to tell. We will cover a variety of themes: grief, warning signs, risk factors, contagion, youth, and most importantly, what can be done to prevent suicide.

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Understand Suicide

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